Cigna Hong Kong, S.A.R., China released today the Hong Kong, S.A.R., China findings of the latest COVID-19 Vaccine Perception Study. This report is the third and final chapter of a three-part series, which aims to track perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines around the world. Over 13,000 people across 11 markets around the world, including Hong Kong, S.A.R., China,China, were surveyed in this installment.
The latest report finds that the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in Hong Kong, S.A.R., China has slightly improved by 3% between April and May 2021, rising to 43% from 40%, but was lower than the global average of 69%. Hong Kong, S.A.R., China also has the lowest rates of acceptance among the 11 markets surveyed.
Increased vaccination rate in Hong Kong, S.A.R., China
More people in Hong Kong, S.A.R., China have received the vaccine, with the vaccination rate increasing from 12% to 18% between April and May 2021. 32% of the unvaccinated respondents also expressed that they would be willing to get the jab.
Furthermore, a significant increase in vaccination rate can also be found within the age group of 25-34, with rates doubling from 5% to 11% in just one month between April and May 2021. Those ages 55 and older has the highest vaccination rate, with 23% of the respondents in this group claiming that they have been vaccinated in May 2021, compared to only 17% in April 2021. The lowest ratio is found in the age group of 18-24, with only 3% of respondents said that they or someone they knew have been vaccinated.
Decline in vaccine hesitancy
Attitudes towards the vaccine has not changed drastically over the study period. In general, Hong Kong, S.A.R., China people are aware of the information on COVID-19 vaccine. Most respondents (73%) said that they are following the news on the COVID-19 vaccines very closely, although there was a slight decreased of 2% compared to in April 2021, and 64% believe that a vaccine will be readily accessible to them, a marked increase from 59% measured in April 2021.
Although there was a notable decline in vaccine hesitancy in Hong Kong, S.A.R., China, dropping from 70% in April to 64% in May 2021, the number of respondents who hold the "wait and see" attitude in the city still ranked number one out of the 11 markets surveyed, and was markedly higher than the global average of 42%. The top concern is side effects from vaccine (87%) and the percentage of respondents claiming to not know enough about the vaccine also increased to 41% in May from 38% in the month prior.
Vaccine safety and effectiveness caused diverging views
Diverging views on the safety of the vaccines between vaccinated and unvaccinated respondents are found. Only 27% of the unvaccinated believe the vaccines available are very safe, compared to 76% of those vaccinated. Perceptions on the effectiveness of the vaccines also differed, with 34% of the unvaccinated agreeing that vaccines can protect them from getting COVID-19, compared to 85% of the vaccinated. Surprisingly, the unvaccinated respondents are just as worried as the vaccinated respondents about contracting (60% of the unvaccinated versus 56% of the vaccinated) and transmitting (78% of the unvaccinated versus 84% of the vaccinated) the virus.
In terms of trusted information sources, vaccinated respondents are more likely to trust information from family doctors, government bodies and private healthcare insurance provider compared to unvaccinated respondents. In contrast, vaccinated respondents are less likely than unvaccinated respondents to trust information from TV news, friends and family, journalists, and social media.
Jonathan Spiers, CEO and Country Manager, Cigna Hong Kong, S.A.R., China, said: "As the COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out in Hong Kong, S.A.R., China for a period of time, we are glad that the vaccination rates have improved an...
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